Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that he wants talks with Pakistan without the shadow of terrorism.
Hitting out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for raking up the Kashmir issue at the UN, Modi said that the UN was not the proper forum to solve bilateral issues. He said he was prepared to engage in serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere, "without the shadow of terrorism", in his first address to the UN General Assembly.
He also said that this was the time to provide succour to the people of flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, and India had offered help with flood relief to Pakistani Kashmir too.
Sharif had said that Kashmir was the "core" issue and pushed for plebiscite for the state in his address Friday. Modi said that his government has always given importance to good relations with neighbours and to peace and stability in the neighbourhood, including with Pakistan.
He said India wanted serious and peaceful dialogue with Pakistan, "but Pakistan also has a duty to create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere".
